Question: good 76 key semi weighted keyboards

[Bastardo Demono]

I find that I like 76, semi-weighed synth the best for me, since they tend to be light and I find that I like semi weighted because I stilll have control but also enough strength to do what I want. I currently have an alesis qs 7.1, and it has been an awesome synth for me, but I am thinking it would be good to have two synths, and my parents are willing to shell out the cash, and I want something that would be some sort of an upgrade to my current synth. Anyone have any recommendations?

[Over The Edge]

Kurzweil K2600



FL
www.franklucas.net

[el mae de las teclas]

I thought semi-weighted keys where like those on the triton. And weighted keys like those on the k2600... :? Or am I missunderstanding something?
Andrés

[Lyngs]

I thought semi-weighted keys where like those on the triton. And weighted keys like those on the k2600... :? Or am I missunderstanding something?
Andrés

In general, semi-weighted will be like most hammonds where you are able to do your palmslides etc, but still with a little weight.

Weighted keys are trying to give a feel similar to an acoustic piano.

Anyway - check out the Gear FAQ, I'm sure you'll find an explanation of the terms there.

U.

[Lyngs]

There are 3 different basic kinds of keyboard actions:

Synth Action - examples: K2000, KME-61, most Casio keyboards,
most of the Yamaha PSR series, pretty much anything with 61 keys.
These have normally flat, unweighted keys.

Semi-weighted Action - examples: Kurzweil SP76, K2500/K2600,
Korg Triton Pro, most all 76 key actions. Good descriptive
words here would be "organ-like, springy, bouncy, light". Not
as soft as synth-action, and much more bouncy than fully-weighted
keys. Uses springs similar to the synth action, but stronger for
a more "springy, bouncy" feel.

Fully-weighted Action - examples: Kurzweil SP88, K2600X, Korg
Triton ProX, MOST 88 key keyboards. Exception would be the Kurzweil
SP88, which has 88 keys, but is semi-weighted. The SP88X is fully
weighted. The way fully-weighted actions work differs from keyboard
to keyboard. Kurzweil uses a standard Fatar action which has a set
of lead and plastic weights underneath the keys. Yamaha uses their
own design (the details of which I'm not familiar, never took one
of those apart). Regardless, this type of action is more or less
the closest to a real piano weight.

An added note from Shreddy:

Then you have the style of keys Piano vs. Waterfall. The piano
keys have a lip at the end of the key, 95% of the synths use the
same style key (regardless of weighted or non). Waterfall style
keys is what you have a Hammond B3 or Nord Electro, they're rounded
keys (mostly weighted) without the lip. This allows you to peform
slides (gliss) without wrecking your hands.


U.

[Angelic Layer]

Motif Es 7

[Over The Edge]

The K2600 or S has 76 semi-weighted keys.

The K2600X or XS has 88 weighted keys.



FL
www.franklucas.net

[Purator]

If you want a master keyboard then it's Roland A-33

[Spacehog]

Has anyone tried the Roland A-37? Is it any good? I'm trying to debate whether to get a third synth or just a midi controller (I've decided in the end to return my mate's Sequential Pro One as it's just too annoying to use as a regular thing! :)) If I go for the midi controller option, there's not a lot of different options, the A-37 looks to be about the best option assuming I can get a decent price on it... I don't really *need* another keyboard synth :)

Martin

[Purator]

Has anyone tried the Roland A-37? Is it any good? I'm trying to debate whether to get a third synth or just a midi controller (I've decided in the end to return my mate's Sequential Pro One as it's just too annoying to use as a regular thing! :)) If I go for the midi controller option, there's not a lot of different options, the A-37 looks to be about the best option assuming I can get a decent price on it... I don't really *need* another keyboard synth :)

Martin

Sorry, I was reffering to that one (A-33 is the older model without the display and some minor stuff).

I recommend it!

[PsawniK]

I second the Motif ES6/7. The keys are light, but have enough stiffness so your fingers don't go all over the place like on PSRs, etc.

[synthguy]

Motif ES7
Triton Pro
Kurzweil 2600S

[Tigerfolly]

I find that I like 76, semi-weighed synth the best for me, since they tend to be light and I find that I like semi weighted because I stilll have control but also enough strength to do what I want. I currently have an alesis qs 7.1, and it has been an awesome synth for me, but I am thinking it would be good to have two synths, and my parents are willing to shell out the cash, and I want something that would be some sort of an upgrade to my current synth. Anyone have any recommendations?

You didn't mention your style, your preference of sounds, whether you want/need sampling or not, your need for expansion later on, or what you plan on using this board for (home use, studio use, live use), or most importantly: your budget.

If you've got the money, I'd suggest the Kurzweil K2600s. It's going to do -anything- you want it to do, from sounds to styles, live use to studio use, sampling or layering.. it's going to do it all.

A little lower in the price range is the Korg Triton Studio 76. It's not semi-weighted, but it's truly a sequencing studio in one board with great sampling capabilities, and probably the easiest to use and most flexible interface (thanks to that wonderful touch screen). The sounds aren't the best in the business, but they're definitely the most versatile. Everyone from metal and rap rock bands, to hip-hop producers, to dance artists, and film scorers use this board.

Around the same price range as the Triton is the Yamaha Motif 7, and it's recent sister the Motif ES 7. It too offers great sampling capabilities, but with much better sounds than the Tritons, although these sounds are generally more in the "traditional" palette of sounds.. Pianos, EPs, organs, basses, guitars, and a pretty good group of strings, brass, woodwinds and vintage sounds. It has a pretty buff sequencer in it as well, but I think the Triton's is easier to use due to the interface. But once you get used to the Motif, it's just as powerful.

Although it's 88 keys, if you find you don't need the sampling or massive sequencer of the Motif, you can check out the Yamaha S90. Same great sounds as the Motif, plus a nice S700 three-layer piano.

And you can keep going on and on with many different boards. Roland Fantom 76, Roland Fantom S. Roland RD700 digital piano. Or into the analog realm, or into MIDI controllers. It all depends on your personal preferences.

[Georges]

From the feel, I would say that JD-800 and Triton / Trinity V3 have semi-weighted keys.

I use Kurzweil SP-76; it's got sounds, 3 ribbons, a fader and is very easy to use - I control a K2600r with it. Roland A-37 has more user setups but for the rest, it's just a horrible-to-use masterkeyboard and the keys are not really that great on this one. So if it's between the two, check out your needs, if you need more MIDI setups, then go for A-37, if all the rest is more important to you (i.e. real-time control, ease of use, on-board sounds, key feel), then go for SP-76. FYI, I tested both before buying SP-76, the latter was more what I needed.

In your case, I would say that a masterkeyboard (à la SP-76) with a specialized synth as rack would be a perfect upgrade for you. Specialized would mean: virtual analog (JP-8080, Q rack, Virus rack, microQ, Electribe MX, etc.), FM, additive, etc.. If you want to do recordings or MIDI songs, a small cheap mixer table would be a must as well. Together with some good sequencer/notation software for your PC, you will be able to write what you want.

Why not buy another workstation ? You would no more need your Alesis if you went for a Triton/K2600/XV-5080/Motif.

Finally, I advise you not to go for a K2600. It's too heavy for a 76 key synth. Rather consider SP-76 and K2600r (more expensive but lighter)